Layton man shot by police charged with attempted murder

By Emiley Morgan , Deseret News

Published: Wednesday, Sept. 12 2012 2:00 p.m. MDT

Joshua Robert Isakson, 30, was shot by a Layton police officer during an altercation on Aug. 28, 2012. He has since been charged with attempted aggravated murder, aggravated kidnapping and assault in connection with the incident. He allegedly attacked the officer while repeatedly threatening to kill him. (, Davis County Jail)

FARMINGTON — A Layton man who was shot by police last month is now facing criminal charges.

Joshua Robert Isakson, 30, was charged with attempted aggravated murder and aggravated kidnapping, first-degree felonies, and three counts of assault, a class A misdemeanor, in 2nd District Court. Isakson was shot in the chest by a Layton police officer during an altercation on Aug. 28.

According to police, Isakson was attacking an officer when he was shot. The officer was called to 565 E. Miller Ave. in Layton on reports of a domestic incident, but he was directed to 566 E. Miller Ave. upon his arrival.

"During the course of the physical assault on one of the cohabitant victims, she was unlawfully detained and taken against her will, by physical force, from the residence at 565 E. Miller to the residence at 566 E. Miller," a police affidavit states. "(Isakson) proceeded to subject said victim to bodily injury and terrorize the victim through the use of physical force."

One person witnessed the woman being pulled across the street and said the woman was calling for him to let her go. The witness said Isakson was also yelling derogatory statements about police.

Police entered the home and family members said Isakson's mother directed an officer to where the fight was occurring in the home. They reported that Isakson jumped on the police officer as soon as he opened the door.

"The unprovoked assault occurred in the hallway and living room of (the) residence," the police affidavit states. "The defendant continued to assault the police officer up until the point that the officer discharged his firearm three times, striking the defendant twice."

Isakson's mother said her son "made the comment that he was going to kill a police officer" when he learned police were on the way, according to the affidavit. She said he repeated throughout the assault, "I'm going to kill you ... cop."

When asked later if she actually believed that the officer's life was in danger and that her son was going to kill the police officer, she said, "Oh, yeah, he was just going at him," officers wrote in the affidavit.

The injured police officer was taken to a local hospital where he was treated for trauma to his neck and head.

"Victim police officer reported thinking the defendant was going to kill him if he were to lose consciousness and knew the defendant's intent was to kill him," the affidavit states.

Three people were allegedly assaulted by Isakson before police arrived. Isakson was critically injured in the shooting, but was arrested Monday at the hospital and is currently being housed in the medical unit of the Davis County Jail.

Isakson appeared in court Wednesday, where he waived his right to a hearing on the evidence. An arraignment has been set for Sept. 27.